diff --git a/clients/desktop/PlayPalace.spec b/clients/desktop/PlayPalace.spec
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..f9ee271a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/clients/desktop/PlayPalace.spec
@@ -0,0 +1,49 @@
+# -*- mode: python ; coding: utf-8 -*-
+
+a = Analysis(
+    ['client.py'],
+    pathex=[],
+    binaries=[],
+    datas=[('sounds', 'sounds')],
+    hiddenimports=[],
+    hookspath=[],
+    hooksconfig={},
+    runtime_hooks=[],
+    excludes=[],
+    noarchive=False,
+    optimize=0,
+)
+pyz = PYZ(a.pure)
+
+exe = EXE(
+    pyz,
+    a.scripts,
+    [],
+    exclude_binaries=True,
+    name='PlayPalace',
+    debug=False,
+    bootloader_ignore_signals=False,
+    strip=False,
+    upx=True,
+    console=False,
+    disable_windowed_traceback=False,
+    argv_emulation=False,
+    target_arch=None,
+    codesign_identity=None,
+    entitlements_file=None,
+)
+coll = COLLECT(
+    exe,
+    a.binaries,
+    a.datas,
+    strip=False,
+    upx=True,
+    upx_exclude=[],
+    name='PlayPalace',
+)
+app = BUNDLE(
+    coll,
+    name='PlayPalace.app',
+    icon=None,
+    bundle_identifier=None,
+)
diff --git a/clients/desktop/sound_manager.py b/clients/desktop/sound_manager.py
index 36373c60..af9b9016 100644
--- a/clients/desktop/sound_manager.py
+++ b/clients/desktop/sound_manager.py
@@ -2,13 +2,27 @@
 
 import logging
 import os
+import sys
 import threading
 import time
+from pathlib import Path
 from sound_cacher import SoundCacher
 
 LOG = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 
+def _default_sounds_folder() -> str:
+    """Return the bundled sounds folder for source and PyInstaller runs."""
+    if getattr(sys, "frozen", False):
+        bundle_root = getattr(sys, "_MEIPASS", None)
+        if bundle_root:
+            candidate = Path(bundle_root) / "sounds"
+            if candidate.is_dir():
+                return str(candidate)
+        return str(Path(sys.executable).resolve().parent / "sounds")
+    return str(Path(__file__).resolve().parent / "sounds")
+
+
 class AudioPlaylist:
     """Represents a playlist that can play either sounds or music tracks."""
 
@@ -326,7 +340,7 @@ def __init__(self):
         self.current_music = None
         self.current_music_name = None
         self.music_volume = 0.2
-        self.sounds_folder = "sounds"
+        self.sounds_folder = _default_sounds_folder()
 
         # Configurable menu sounds (can be changed by server)
         self.menuclick_sound = "menuclick.ogg"
diff --git a/clients/desktop/tests/test_sound_manager.py b/clients/desktop/tests/test_sound_manager.py
index 30e67349..bb0c8995 100644
--- a/clients/desktop/tests/test_sound_manager.py
+++ b/clients/desktop/tests/test_sound_manager.py
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+import os
+
 import pytest
 
 import sound_manager as sm_mod
@@ -41,6 +43,51 @@ def make_manager(tmp_path):
     return manager
 
 
+def test_default_sounds_folder_is_absolute():
+    manager = SoundManager()
+
+    assert manager.sounds_folder.endswith("sounds")
+    assert os.path.isabs(manager.sounds_folder)
+
+
+def test_default_sounds_folder_uses_pyinstaller_meipass(monkeypatch, tmp_path):
+    bundle_root = tmp_path / "bundle"
+    (bundle_root / "sounds").mkdir(parents=True)
+    executable = tmp_path / "PlayPalace.app" / "Contents" / "MacOS" / "PlayPalace"
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(sm_mod.sys, "frozen", True, raising=False)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(sm_mod.sys, "_MEIPASS", str(bundle_root), raising=False)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(sm_mod.sys, "executable", str(executable))
+
+    assert sm_mod._default_sounds_folder() == str(bundle_root / "sounds")
+
+
+def test_default_sounds_folder_falls_back_when_meipass_sounds_missing(
+    monkeypatch, tmp_path
+):
+    bundle_root = tmp_path / "_internal"
+    bundle_root.mkdir()
+    executable = tmp_path / "PlayPalace" / "PlayPalace.exe"
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(sm_mod.sys, "frozen", True, raising=False)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(sm_mod.sys, "_MEIPASS", str(bundle_root), raising=False)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(sm_mod.sys, "executable", str(executable))
+
+    assert sm_mod._default_sounds_folder() == str(executable.parent / "sounds")
+
+
+def test_default_sounds_folder_uses_frozen_executable_without_meipass(
+    monkeypatch, tmp_path
+):
+    executable = tmp_path / "PlayPalace.app" / "Contents" / "MacOS" / "PlayPalace"
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(sm_mod.sys, "frozen", True, raising=False)
+    monkeypatch.delattr(sm_mod.sys, "_MEIPASS", raising=False)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(sm_mod.sys, "executable", str(executable))
+
+    assert sm_mod._default_sounds_folder() == str(executable.parent / "sounds")
+
+
 def test_play_passes_full_path(tmp_path):
     (tmp_path / "click.ogg").write_bytes(b"123")
     manager = make_manager(tmp_path)